Mechanically actuated warning device

ABSTRACT

Mechanically actuated warning device of the doorbell type. A hammer is caused to strike sound plates by means of a push piece having a cam portion which acts on an actuating element which is drivingly connected to the hammer through elastically yieldable means forming an overcenter mechanism with the actuating element. Return means urge the actuating element to a position of rest in which the hammer is in the vicinity of one of the sound plates.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Jean Charles Joseph Blosse;2,757,633 8/1956 Roseman 1 16/169X Michel Jean Joseph Blosse, 48Boulevard de 2,782,753 2/1957 Grohsgal 1 16/169 General de Gaulle 95,Sannois, France 2,856,890 10/1958 Rinker 116/141 [21] Appl. No. 779,9553,012,538 12/1961 Roseman.... 116/169 ffl d g g-52, 33? 3,038,440 6/1962McEvoy 116/141 atente y 32 Priority Dec. 7, 1967 F OREIGN 1 ENTS FranceGreatBr ta n [31] 131,294 912,363 12/1962 Great Britain 116/169 PrimaryExaminer-Louis J. Capozi Att0meyMax Wall [54] MECHANICALLY ACTUATEDWARNING DEVICE I g 12 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

84/404, 340/392 ABSTRACT: Mechanically actuated warning device of the[51] 1/10 doorbell type. A hammer is caused tostrike sound plates by[50] Field of Search 1 16/141, means f a h iece having a cam portionwhich acts on an 340/392, 393 actuating element which is drivinglyconnected to the hammer through elastically yieldable means forming anovercenter [56] References CM mechanism with the actuating element.Return means urge the UNITED STATES PATENTS actuating element to aposition of rest in which the hammer is 2,472,382 6/1949 Miller 1 16/169in the vicinity of one of the sound plates.

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Patented May 25, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 25, 1971 3,580,217

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 MECHANICALLY ACTUA'I'ED WARNING DEVICE The presentinvention relates to mechanically actuated warning devices and moreparticularly to doorbells of the type having a push piece actuating ahammer which alternately strikes two sound plates.

Warning devices of the aforementioned type are known in which the pushpiece acts on the intermediate mechanism connected to an arm carryingthe hammer. The arrangement and the operation of these mechanisms areusually complicated and the warning devices resulting therefrom areexpensive. 1

The object of the invention is to provide a mechanically actuatedwarning device of the type having a push piece and a hammer carried byan arm pivotably mounted between two sound plates in a housing, whereinsaid push piece .is integral with a cam which is located within saidhousing and cooperates with an' actuating element drivingly connected tosaid hammer, and actuating element constituting with elasticallyyieldable means an overcenter mechanism and being urged by return meansto a position of rest in which said hammer is in the vicinity of one ofsaid plates.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe ensuing description with reference to the accompanying drawings. i

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial vertical sectional view of a warning deviceaccording to the invention mounted on'a door;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the sound-producing mechanism; g

FIG. 3 is a detail sectional view of the sound plate taken along line3-3 of FIG. pendicular to the curvature of this plate;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the mechanism;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are front and side elevational views respectively of thehousing;

FIG. 7 is a partial view similar to FIG. 1 of another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of this second embodiment; and v FIG.9 is a partial view similar to FIG. 8 of a third embodiment of theinvention.

he embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6, a warning device of the doorbell typeaccording to the invention comprises mainly a housing A'secured to theinner face of the door P and containing tw o sound plates B, C havingdifferent thicknesses, lengths and therefore emitting different sounds,a hammer D, a hammer-actuating mechanism E controlled by a cam F and apush piece G partly disposed in an aperture in the door and connected toa coaxial tube H to which the cam F is secured.

The housing A comprises a base 1 secured to the wall of the door, forexample by means of screws, and a resonant cover 1. The metal soundplates B, C are preferably curved and each is supported by two posts 3,which are integral with the base 1 or mounting of the 2, approximatelyper- I fixed to the latter, through pins 4 and rings 5 of a flexiblefoam material, for example Nylon foam, which acoustically insulates theplates from the housing and facilitates their positioning/The centerpart of each ring 5 is clamped if desired by a wire around thecorresponding reduced part of the pin 4. 42 The hammer D is carried byan 38 6 pivotably mounted on a pin 7 secured to the base 1. Thehammer-actuating mechanism E comprises a lever 8 which is mounted torotate about a pin 9 on the base 1 and is connected to the hammerthrough a tension coil spring 10. The lever 8 is biased to a position ofrest in which the hammer D is in the vicinity of the plate B having thelow pitch note by a spring 11 wound around the pin 9 and anchored in thebase 1. In this position, the lever 8 bears against a cylindrical.portion l3 of the cam F, the action of the spring 11 tending to limitcam play.

When the cam is displaced by the push piece inwardly of the housing, aconical portion 13 of this cam acts on the lever 8 and rotates ittowards the plate C. Two adjustable stops 14, consisting of two verticalstrips secured to the base 1, limit the travel of the spring andtherefore preclude contact of the hammer D with the plates once thishammer has struck them, so as to avoid interferring with their vibrationand facilitate the percussion of the hammer.

A coil spring 11'' bearing against and surrounding the cam F isanchored, at one end, to the upper coil of the spring 11 and, at theother end, to the lower end of the spring 11. This spring 11 contributesto the balancing of the forces which tends to radially wedge the pushpiece in the course of its movement so as to maintain it in thelongitudinal direction.

The arrangement is such that (as the diagram shown in FIG.

4 indicates) the path of the free end of the lever 8 passes beyond or atleast over the pin 7 so that the percussion on the sound plates issufficiently strong. It is also necessary that the spring 10 be putunder sufficient tension when the lever 8 is shifted so that the releasethereof is effective. For this purpose, it will be observed that, in thediagram shown in FIG. 4, the distance M N must be sufficiently greatrelative to the distance MN, and likewise the distance M,N must besufficiently great relative to the distance M N The straight lines M Nand M,N must be sufficiently remote from the pin 7 that the hammer isput suitably out of balance, that is, put suddenly out of balance. 7

The push piece G consists of a tube engaged in a mount 15 which isadapted in the aperture of the door and comprises a flange l6 bearingagainst the door. The tube G also comprises a flange 17 for abutmentagainst the flange 16 of the mount and the portion of the tube G locatedbeyond this flange 17 inside the mount 15 is engaged and secured, forexample by an adhesive, in the coaxial tube H. A return compressionspring 18 is located coaxially between the flange 17 of the push pieceand an abutment Washer 19 applied against a stop ring 20 disposed in aninner recess in the mount 15. The assembly comprising the abutmentwasher 19 and the ring 20 may be replaced by a screw-threaded ring. Thespring 18 biases the push piece G outwardly so that the flange 17 bearsagainst the flange 16 of the mount. The number of coils of the springcan be so calculated that the latter can also act as an abutment forlimiting the travel of the push piece G when the latter is depressed bythe finger. The cam F is connected to the tube H by two setscrews 21which are disposed at to each other and allow an axial adjustment of theposition in accordance with the thickness of the wall of the door. Ashock-absorbing washer 22, as of felt, may be disposed between the cam Fand the base 1 of the housing. The end of the tube H located in thehousing is close to a coaxial sleeve 23 integral with the cover 2 of thehousing. This sleeve defines an opening 24 intended for viewing theouter space through an optical spyglass or judas hole whose lenses aremounted in the tube constituting the push piece G. Shown in dot-dashline in FIG. 1 is the position of the end of the tube H engaged in thesleeve 23 when the push piece is actuated and the shown in FIG. 2 is thecorresponding position of the mechanism E and hammer D.

A closing slide or panel 25 is provided for the opening 24 (FIG. 5).Sound holes 26 suitably arranged in the lateral walls of the cover ofthe housing (FIG. 6) improve the resonance of this housing.

When the push piece G is depressed, the tube H moves and drives the camF. The lever 8, which initially bears against the cylindrical portion 12of the cam (FIG. 2), is rotated by the conical portion 13 in oppositionto the action of the spring 11. The spring 10 connecting the lever 8 tothe hammer D is progressively extended and, when the lever 8 passesbeyond thepin 7, the maximum tension of the spring 10 causes the hammerD to rotate very suddenly and strike the plate C. The stop 14 for thespring 10 prevents the hammer from remaining in contact with the plateC. The new position is shown in dotdash line in FIG. 2.

As the lever 8 has been actuated stressing of the spring 11, as soon asthe push piece G is released, the lever 8 is returned by the spring 11,the latter being assisted by the spring 18 of the push piece. As thelever 8 passes over the pin 7 the spring 10, which was progressivelytensioned, suddenly shifts the hammer towards the plate B.

in opposition to the position of the cam F, and

i In this case also, the stop 14 for the springl prevents any undesiredcontact of the hammer D with the plate B.

The mechanism E for actuating the hammer D constitutes an overcentermechanism. As has been stressed with reference to the diagram shown inFIG. 4, it is at the moment when the lever 8 passes over the pin 7 thatthe spring is extended to the maximum extent and suddenly drives thehammer D towards either of the sound plates.

The warning device of the doorbell type shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 differsfrom the foregoing device only in the arrangement of its overcentermechanism for actuating the hammer.

Mounted in the housing A secured to the inner face of a door P, are twosound plates B, C and the hammer D. The overcenter mechanism E iscontrolled by the cam F connected to the push piece having anincorporated optical .spyglass or judas hole (not shown) through thecoaxial tube H.

The hammer D is carried by an arm 6 which is mounted to rotate about apin 7 secured to the base 1 of the housing. The hammer-actuatingmechanism E comprises a lever 8 which is'mounted to rotate about a pin 9on the base 1 and is operatively connected to the hammer D so as todrive it positively when the push piece is actuated. For'this purpose,the lever terminates in a fork position 30 between the branches of whichis engaged a lug 31' carried by an arm 32 integral with the hammer D. Atension coil spring 10 anchored, on one hand, to the hammer and, on theother hand, to a stud 33 fixed to the base 1 ensures the passage throughthe overcenter position of the mechanism when the push piece isactuated.

b Two stops l4? limit the travel of the spring 10 so as to prevent aprolonged contact of the hammer'with the sound plates after percussion.

The arrangement is such that the lever 8 and the arm 6 carrying thehammer D rotate in the same direction when the mechanism is actuated. Inorder to accommodate the rotational movements about different axes ofthe fork portion 30 and of the hammer D, the fork portion has suitabledimensions but maintains the lug 31 between its branches. The positioncorresponding to the percussion of the hammer against the plate C isshown in dot-dash line in FIG. 8.

t In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the hammer D is carried by apivotable arm 6 provided with a lug 41 located in an oblong aperture 40in the lever 8 i The overcenter mechanism E comprises a tension coilspring 10 which is anchored to the hammer and to the base of thehousing. In this embodiment, the lever 8 and the arm 6 with the hammer Dpivot in opposite directions.

The aperture 40 has such dimensions as to allow these pivotal movementsabout different axes.

By way of modification, the connection between the lever and the hammercould be by means of a lug carried by the lever and engaged in anaperture fonned in the hammer or in the arm carrying the hammer.

Apart from the simplicity of the mechanism, the warning device accordingto the invention has the advantage of allowing the incorporation of anoptical spyglass or judas hole in the push piece which is speciallyadapted to serve as a mount for the objective lens or for the, assemblyof the lenses of the optical spyglass. The warning and observingfunctions require only a single aperture in the door.

even in respect of very small variations in thickness.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described, manymodifications and changes may be made therein without departing from thescope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having now described our invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by LettersPatent is:

l. A mechanically actuated warning device of the doorbell type,comprising a housing, two sound plates mounted in said housing, anannpivotably mounted in the latter and carrying a hammer for allowingangular movement of i said hammer between said two sound plates, a pushpiece slidably mounted in said housing, a cam rigid with said pushpiece, an actuating element 'operatively connected to said hammer andurged elastically against said cam so as to be directly moved by thelatter when said push piece is pushed in, elastically yieldable meansconnected to said hammer and constituting with said actuating element anovercenter mechanism, and return means cooperative with said actuatingelement for urging said actuating element to a position of rest in whichsaid hammer is in the vicinity of one of said plates.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a tube integral with saidpush piece and on which said cam is mounted; said cam being adjustablein position alongsaid tube without requiring the cutting of said tubewhenmounting the device.

3. A device as claimed in claim I, wherein said cam comprises acylindrical portion with which said actuatingelement is in contact insaid position of rest and a substantially frustoconical portion withwhich said actuating element is in contact when actuating said 'pushpieces. I i

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuating element is apivotable lever connected to said hammer through said elasticallyyieldable means.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuating element is apivotable lever connected to said hammer in such manner as to drive thelatter positively when said push piece is actuated, said elasticallyyieldable means being connected to said hammer and to said housing.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising complementaryconnecting elements between said lever and structure consisting of saidhammer and said arm, said complementary connecting. elements beingcooperative with play therebetween so as to allow movement of saidhammer after passage through said center. I

' 7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said lever is provided witha fork portion in which is'engaged a lug integral with said structureconsisting of said hammer and said arm.

8. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said lever is provided withan oblong aperture in which is engaged a lug integral with-saidstructure consisting of said hammer and said arm. 9. A device as claimedin claim 1, comprising two adjustable stops for limiting the travel ofsaid elastically yieldable means so as to prevent said hammer fromremaining in contact with one of said sound plates after percussionthereof.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said soundplates has a curved shape.

. mechanism must be cut to suit the thicknesses of the walls,

11. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for mounting eachof said sound plates on said housing and including a pin integral withsaid housing and having a portion of reduced section, and a ring offlexible material interposed between said plate and said portion ofreduced section, whereby said plates are sound insulated from saidhousing.

12. A mechanically actuated warning device of the doorbell type,comprising a housing, two sound plates, a push piece, an 60 f annpivotable between said two sound plates, a hammer carried by said arm, acam integral with said push piece and located in said housing, anactuating element drivingly connected to said hammer and cooperativewith said cam, elastically yieldable means combined with said actuatingelement and constituting with said actuating element an overcentermechanism, and return means cooperative with said actuating element forurging said actuating element to a position of rest in which said hammeris in the vicinity of one of said plates, said push piece comprising amounting tube having a throughway bore and an optical spyglass structureincluding lenses mounted in said bore of said tube, said housing havinga throughway opening coaxial with said opticalvspyglass structturewhereby it is possible to observe'the space on the side of saidhousing remotefrom said opening by peering through said opening and saidspyglass.

1. A mechanically actuated warning device of the doorbell type,comprising a housing, two sound plates mounted in said housing, an armpivotably mounted in the latter and carrying a hammer for allowingangular movement of said hammer between said two sound plates, a pushpiece slidably mounted in said housing, a cam rigid with said pushpiece, an actuating element operatively connected to said hammer andurged elastically against said cam so as to be directly moved by thelatter when said push piece is pushed in, elastically yieldable meansconnected to said hammer and constituting with said actuating element anovercenter mechanism, and return means cooperative with said actuatingelement for urging said actuating element to a position of rest in whichsaid hammer is in the vicinity of one of said plates.
 2. A device asclaimed in claim 1, comprising a tube integral with said push piece andon which said cam is mounted, said cam being adjustable in positionalong said tube without requiring the cutting of said tube when mountingthe device.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said camcomprises a cylindrical portion with which said actuating element is incontact in said position of rest and a substantially frustoconicalportion with which said actuating element is in contact when actuatingsaid push pieces.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidactuating element is a pivotable lever connected to said hammer throughsaid elastically yieldable means.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 1,wherein said actuating element is a pivotable lever connected to saidhammer in such manner as to drive the latter positively when said pushpiece is actuated, said elastically yieldable means being connected tosaid hammer and to said housing.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 5,further comprising complementary connecting elements between said leverand structure consiSting of said hammer and said arm, said complementaryconnecting elements being cooperative with play therebetween so as toallow movement of said hammer after passage through said center.
 7. Adevice as claimed in claim 6, wherein said lever is provided with a forkportion in which is engaged a lug integral with said structureconsisting of said hammer and said arm.
 8. A device as claimed in claim6, wherein said lever is provided with an oblong aperture in which isengaged a lug integral with said structure consisting of said hammer andsaid arm.
 9. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising two adjustablestops for limiting the travel of said elastically yieldable means so asto prevent said hammer from remaining in contact with one of said soundplates after percussion thereof.
 10. A device as claimed in claim 1,wherein at least one of said sound plates has a curved shape.
 11. Adevice as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for mounting each of saidsound plates on said housing and including a pin integral with saidhousing and having a portion of reduced section, and a ring of flexiblematerial interposed between said plate and said portion of reducedsection, whereby said plates are sound insulated from said housing. 12.A mechanically actuated warning device of the doorbell type, comprisinga housing, two sound plates, a push piece, an arm pivotable between saidtwo sound plates, a hammer carried by said arm, a cam integral with saidpush piece and located in said housing, an actuating element drivinglyconnected to said hammer and cooperative with said cam, elasticallyyieldable means combined with said actuating element and constitutingwith said actuating element an overcenter mechanism, and return meanscooperative with said actuating element for urging said actuatingelement to a position of rest in which said hammer is in the vicinity ofone of said plates, said push piece comprising a mounting tube having athroughway bore and an optical spyglass structure including lensesmounted in said bore of said tube, said housing having a throughwayopening coaxial with said optical spyglass structure whereby it ispossible to observe the space on the side of said housing remote fromsaid opening by peering through said opening and said spyglass.